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Ten Minutes in the Street: What are We Seeing?-The Parallax View
When assessing and sizing up a building and occupancy there are a number of mission critical elements to consider in the process. Many times the perspective of the officer or the commander may be biased and subjective based their “positional” point-of view. In other words you may look at a building and occupancy differently from the perspective of an Engine Company officer, than that of the Truck Company Officer or the Battalion Chief from a command point of view. Thus, company or crew safety, risk operational factors, impediments, strategic or tactical issues may not always align or be identified.
Based upon the building depicted, provide some insights from YOUR point of view as the risk and size-up factors of the building; its projected occupancy , the construction type, your issues related to strategic or tactical tasks or assignments. Provide us with what “View” you’re taking, i.e., Engine Company, Truck or Ladder Company, Rescue Company, Battalion Chief, Incident Commander, EMS, search team etc.
Tell us what YOU see, what you suspect and what the building and occupancy profiling means to you in your job function should you respond to this structure on a reported of fire. There’s a lot we can discuss, so get to work…..
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Dunbar on
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3 story brick taxpayer, or mabea offices above the buisness. Built late 1800's or early 1900's. Has probably been renovated numerouse times over the years. The obvious problem of gaining access to the first floor with the roll up doors and bars on the windows, limited access and egress(only see one easy access entryway). This place will crumble with a big fire load, paying attention to huge chimneys on the top of this joint. Exposures are a problem if this gets out of hand. Is there a basement in this place? If this is a true taxpayer time of day will play into the mode of operation. If the sign on the top of this place means anything, you may have a language barrier with the tenants. Watching out for falling airconditioners. What kind of buisness is on the first floor?
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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on
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Roll ups make entry more difficult, make PPV more difficult.
Probably not reinforced or if it is it is "retro" fitted
Possible/probable cramped quarters interior
I would say store or storefront on ground level and either small offices or living units above.
Basement? Crawl spaces? Cocklofts?
it looks as though there is an open entrance on the side with the big roll up door and a small partially coved door on the opposite side
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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I'll take the Battalion Chief/Command perspective...
My initial impression is that this is a taxpayer that is at least 70 to 80 years old. The wood floor and roof supports are going to be dried out and will burn readily once fire gets to them. There could be old-style oil furnace heaters (one or more) in the basement, open interior stairs, and illegal additions or subdivisions on the interior with no evidence on the exterior.
Assuming that we're looking at the A=B corner, there are a couple of other issues. First, the B-A corner on Division 1 is beveled off for a corner entrance. This cantilevers the Division 2 and 3 corners over that door. This produces an inherently weak point in the brickwork.
Side D is stepped off - it's only two stories full width, with a Division 3 that stops short. This could be a result of design, a mixed-construction addition, or a partial demolition from a previous fire. All tell me that this side might be inherently weak.
The large painted area on Side A can cover defects in the brick and hide signs of impending collapse that might otherwise be evident.
The Division 1 security doors are obvious. What isn't so obvious is that there is only one street-level entrance to the residences on Division 2 and 3. It's the door on Side B next to the adjoining building. Unless there's a Side C door we can't see, there might be only one way out for residents. This could be bad news for a night-time fire that started in the basement or the commercial occupancies on Division 1.
Side C will hopefully have some good fire escapes toward the Side D. It is probably a partial alley, but could be a narrow dead-end street or small parking area. The utilities, dumpsters, and maybe a rear entrance will be there. It will be obstructed, trashy, and difficult-to-impossible for apparatus access.
Side D is a one-story commercial exposure with a very narrow pedestrian alley between this building and the exposure. It might be close enough for a two-stage ground ladder operation - ladder the exposure, then ladder Side D from the exposure roof in case of a fire that obstructs the Side B access door.
Other hazards could be anything - hazmat storage in the commercial occupancies or the basement, biohazards and drug paraphernalia anywhere, guard dogs in the commercial occupancies at night, etc.
There will be rescue problems for any nighttime or Sunday afternoon fire. Rescue problems are possible at any other time, but are not likely to be as severe. Hoseline access to Division 2 and 3 will be problematic, due to the single visible stair access. We'll need at least two extra truck companies for a working fire here. Anything more than a can job or simple one-line, pre-flashover fire is going to be an Working Incident/All Hands if we're lucky and a 2nd or greater alarm if we're not.
A big fire has really severe exposure fire potential on Side C and Side D. The Side C exposure is all wood, so we'll need to assign at least two companies to protect it, and possibly more.
The A-B corner is a good aerial ladder spot - access to two sides, no power lines, and easy position away from the collapse zone.
If master streams are required, this structure is going to be at risk for collapse, due to the limited places to egress water.
Street blockade and traffic and crowd control will be issues, as will Safety, a PIO, and utility Liaison.
Wind direction will be critical, especially for an autovented fire or a cockloft fire after it is vented.
It will also be a critical factor in positioning the Command Post, Rehab, and the second alarm companies.
There are other conditions, but I'll leave them for the rest of the Nation.
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Well, this is an old building. It looks to me to be a taxpayer in design. Right off the bat I know covering exposures is going to be a top priority. If a fire spreads here, it's gonna be a long day. I also notice air conditioners in some of the second and third floor windows which tell me these are probably occupied apartments. I see doors on the A and B sides which would allow us entry into the structure also as a way out if need be. Apparatus placement is critical due to the age and construction of the structure. Closing off this area to traffic and pedestrians would be a must. As well as constant monitoring of conditions both inside and out. If I were on a big city dept. I think I would call on a second alarm if more than 25% of the building were involved.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Cole on
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We can certainly expect deteriorated conditions. The neighborhood indiactes a potentially 'run-down' area, maybe lower-class. The apartments/living spaces above may or maynot be occupied, and there exists potential for transients. We may expect clandestine activities, and possible traps set by drug dealers as well. There may exist a higher probabality of bio-hazards by nature of the neighborhood (needles, etc)
From a Truck Officer's position, we have forced entry problems to deal with due to the several roll-down doors.
Ladder access from the views given are good. We have a flat roof with what looks to be a bulkhead door on top, which provides for a good natural ventilation point, and to access the upper floors if necessary.
From the Engine Officers view, we have what appears to be access to the basement on the Delta side, and access to the interior, at least the upper two floors on the extreme left of the Alpha side. Doesn't appear to be major hinderence to hoseline stretches.
From a tactical standpoint, we a common cockloft, as well as the added weight of the sign on the roof. Truck company access for ladder, and ventilation, VES, and search shows fairly accessible with few barriors. But we have no idea of what type of renovations or alterations have been done, illegal or legal (doubtful). Any extensive fire in this building should go defensive, with collapse zones established given the age, condition, and associated hazards. Consideration of the street light pole during collpase is vital, with companies operating master streams from a flanking position, tower ladders used for the cockloft.
Exposre B(Bravo) looks to a renovated property that may have a common area with the fire building, most likely some type of doorway between. We may expect a common basement running the length of the block as well. Also note the paraphets of the exposre B, and B-1.
Though the presence of window air conditioners may indicate occupancy, anything is possible.
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From the Truck Officer
This is a 3 story taxpayer ordinary construction, 70+ years old with major exposures. The fenced in area on side A (first picture) could very well be enclosing a street to basement stock elevator OR stairwell. I agree completely with Cheif's analysis with the painted front, general condition of the exterior walls, dry rotted structural members, questionable access to the rear or in my example side D.
Hazards- Only one egress from upper floors, deteriorated mortar, window A/C units, roll up doors, questionable access to basement, limited or no access to 4th side. Life safety no matter what time of day it is will be a serious consideration. Search of all floors will have to be conducted immediately.
First truck needs to get their aerial to a window on the 3rd floor, ground ladder to 2nd floor window. If the truck has a 4 person crew split them, Officer + 1 begin search, Driver +1 ladders windows on at least two sides and gets to work on the roll up doors.
Second truck search with the 3rd truck access roof. 4th truck, this will easily be a 2nd alarm+ depending on situation, RIT. If there is a 5th truck inside opening up with the Engine company on the fire floor. If not, 1st truck will be assigned this task once they cleared their assigned search area.
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Another tip about the parapets...
These are sometimes carved masonry if they're a natural stone color.
Sometimes the natural stone colors and the non-earth tones like this one make this either carved wood overlays or more likely stamped, decorative tin over a metal framework. There are often hollow spaces beneath the tin covering that conceal hidden fire. Digging that fire out is a major safety problem unless you have tower ladders or snorkels and can work a safe distance back from the bucket. Long (18 or 20 ft.) pike poles help the truckies keep a safe standoff distance.
If you have to strip the tin coverings from a straight-stick aerial, the safest way to do it is to elevate the tip a few feet above and away from the parapet and work the pike pole down and over the tip to strip the covering.
That way, if a major chunk falls, you can just drop the pike pole instead of pulling a hot and heavy building component down on your head.
It should go without saying that you need a large collapse zone when opening up the parapet skin, as a failure of the underlying support structure can peel away a big chunk of the brickwork with it.
Don't...repeat, don't...ask me how I know this one.
If you're on an engine or rescue company, leave this particular task to the truckies.
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